Vladimir Putin is willing to restart discussions with Donald Trump following the US President’s confession of being upset with him.
Trump, who can be unpredictable, expressed his frustration as Putin once again hindered peace efforts by demanding Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky to resign.
Incidents of shelling by Russia on Ukraine persisted yesterday, with both parties confirming assaults on energy facilities and violating a limited truce agreement.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader was open to a call with Trump “if necessary”.
The Kremlin added: “We continue working with the US side, first of all, on building our relations.”
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, who discussed peace efforts over golf with Trump, said the US leader is losing patience with Moscow.
Trump took a rare aim at Putin on Sunday after the Russian tyrant called for president Zelensky’s removal.
He said: “I was very angry, p***ed off, when Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility.”
He has threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on countries buying Russian oil.
However, he then turned on Zelensky — accusing him of trying to back out of a minerals deal.
He warned of “big, big problems” if he did.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Kharkiv regional head Oleh Sunehubov said 2,000 people were left without power due to Russian shelling.
Fires also raged in the region after attacks on production and warehouse buildings.
Russia said attacks by Ukraine caused a power outage in its Bryansk region while drone strikes hit an electricity substation.
